Thermotherapy device

ABSTRACT

Provided is a thermotherapy device, which includes a first housing ( 10 ), a second housing ( 20 ) disposed under the first housing ( 10 ), a transfer plate ( 30 ), at both sides of which transfer rollers ( 31 ) are provided, and a pair of guide rails ( 40 ) that is provided to the second housing ( 20 ) and on which the respective transfer rollers ( 31 ) of the transfer plate ( 30 ) are placed. The pair of guide rails ( 40 ) are integrally molded when the second housing ( 20 ) is injection-molded. Thus, since the guide rails on which the transfer rollers of the transfer plate travel are integrally molded when the second housing is injection-molded, inefficiency caused by mounting separate rails as in the related art is removed, and thereby assemblability, productivity, and economic efficiency of the thermotherapy device can be improved.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a thermotherapy device in which guiderails on which transfer rollers of a transfer plate travel areintegrally molded when a second housing is injection-molded, therebyremoving inefficiency caused by mounting separate rails as in therelated art, and thus assemblability, productivity, and economicefficiency of the thermotherapy device can be improved.

BACKGROUND ART

As a conventional thermotherapy device, a “massage device for balancedphysical exercise” is disclosed in Korean Examined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 1997-0002202 (published on Feb. 25, 1997, and referredto as “first related art”). The first related art includes a housingframe, a mat detachably located on the housing frame, a pair of firstguide rails installed in parallel in the housing frame in a lengthwisedirection, a first movable plate disposed on the guide rails in a bridgeshape and installed so as to be movable along the guide rails, avibrating means elastically installed on the first movable plate andvibrating in a vertical direction, and a moving means reciprocating thefirst movable plate.

According to the first related art, various functions such as massage,acupressure, and vibration are provided in a bed-shaped main body,thereby providing valuable aid in satisfactorily relieving boneabnormality and muscular fatigue and maintaining a balanced human body.

However, the first related art is configured so that the guide rails areseparately manufactured and disposed in the housing frame. As such, workfor installing the guide rails in the housing frame is additionallyrequired. Further, since the guide rails are separately manufactured, acost required to manufacture the guide rails should be additionallypaid.

Furthermore, as another conventional massage device, a “massageapparatus for whole body” is disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-0253880(granted on Jan. 27, 2000, and referred to as “second related art”).

The second related art is configured so that a rodless cylinder isdisposed at an upper side of an inner reservoir of a bed in a lengthwisedirection of the bed, a sprinkler that can ride and travel on therodless cylinder is disposed at a side of the bed, a chain is drawn fromboth sides of the rodless cylinder and is tied to front and rear ends ofthe sprinkler, and a water pipe is connected to and communicates withthe rodless cylinder via a typical solenoid valve opened/closedselectively so that the sprinkler is reciprocated with energy ofhigh-pressure water.

However, the second related art has a problem in that, since a length orsize of the bed cannot be adjusted, transportation or transfer of theapparatus is inconvenient, and storage or carrying of the apparatus isdifficult. When the apparatus is stored when not used, there is aproblem in that the apparatus occupies a wide area to reduce spaceefficiency.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

The present invention is directed to a thermotherapy device in which,since guide rails on which transfer rollers of a transfer plate travelare integrally molded when a second housing is injection-molded,inefficiency caused by mounting separate rails as in the related art isremoved, and thereby assemblability, productivity, and economicefficiency of the thermotherapy device can be improved.

The present invention is directed to a thermotherapy device in which anupper surface of each guide rail is formed as an inclined slide part,each transfer roller placed on each slide part is formed in an inclinedshape so as to correspond to each slide part, and a contact surfacebetween each slide part and each transfer roller is inclined, so that,during traveling, the transfer rollers can be prevented from beingfluctuated and separated so as to improve stability of the transferrollers.

The present invention is directed to a thermotherapy device in which alimit switch is provided to a transfer plate and provides an automaticdirection switching function when the transfer plate reaches a leadingend or a trailing end of a traveling path, so that operation performanceof the thermotherapy device can be improved.

The present invention is directed to a thermotherapy device in which aholder for housing a remote controller for remote control of thethermotherapy device is provided to a housing so as to easily store theremote controller, and a magnet is provided to the remote controller orholder so as to be able to attach or detach the remote controller and toimprove the convenience of use.

The present invention is directed to a thermotherapy device in which ahousing and a cover member are hinged by a coupling member, and thecover member is unfolded when the thermotherapy device is used and isfolded when the thermotherapy device is not used, so that a size of thethermotherapy device can be remarkably reduced, the thermotherapy devicecan be easily carried and stored when not used, the convenience of usecan be increased by improving mobility, and the cover member can beeasily folded and/or unfolded to increase the convenience of use.

The present invention is directed to a thermotherapy device in which acover member is formed to be thinner than a body in order to reduce athickness of the thermotherapy device, and is separated from a floor dueto a thickness difference from a housing when unfolded and used, and asupporting means is provided to prevent the cover member from leaning orsagging, and supports the cover member so as to be able to horizontallymaintain the cover member when the thermotherapy device is used and torealize a stable support structure.

Technical Solution

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided athermotherapy device, which includes a first housing; a second housingdisposed under the first housing; a transfer plate, at both sides ofwhich transfer rollers are provided; and a pair of guide rails that isprovided to the second housing and on which the respective transferrollers of the transfer plate are placed. The pair of guide rails areintegrally molded when the second housing is injection-molded.

The pair of guide rails may further include slide parts, which areinclined in an inward direction, on upper surfaces thereof.

The transfer rollers of the transfer plate may further include contactparts whose outer circumferential surfaces are inclined in the inwarddirection so as to correspond to the slide parts of the guide rails.

The first housing may further include anti-separation members that aredisposed above the transfer rollers and prevent the transfer rollersfrom being separated from the guide rails while the transfer rollers aretraveling.

Each of the transfer rollers may further include an annular guide flangeon an inner lateral surface thereof which protrudes in a radial outwarddirection.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda thermotherapy device, which includes: a first housing; a secondhousing disposed under the first housing; a transfer plate, at bothsides of which transfer rollers are provided; a pair of guide rails thatis provided to the second housing and on which the respective transferrollers of the transfer plate are placed; and a limit switch provided inthe front and/or rear of the transfer plate.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda thermotherapy device, which includes: a first housing; a secondhousing disposed under the first housing; a transfer plate, at bothsides of which transfer rollers are provided; a pair of guide rails thatis provided to the second housing and on which the respective transferrollers of the transfer plate are placed; a remote controller performingremote control; and a holder that is formed in the first housing and/orthe second housing and in which the remote controller is housed.

The holder and/or the remote controller may further include a detachablemember that attaches or detaches the remote controller.

Advantageous Effects

In the thermotherapy device according to the present invention, sinceguide rails on which transfer rollers of a transfer plate travel areintegrally molded when a second housing is injection-molded,inefficiency caused by mounting separate rails as in the related art isremoved, and thereby assemblability, productivity, and economicefficiency of the thermotherapy device can be improved.

In the present invention, an upper surface of each guide rail is formedas an inclined slide part, each transfer roller placed on each slidepart is formed in an inclined shape so as to correspond to each slidepart, and a contact surface between each slide part and each transferroller is inclined, so that, during traveling, the transfer rollers canbe prevented from being fluctuated and separated so as to improvestability of the transfer rollers.

In the present invention, a limit switch is provided to a transfer plateand provides an automatic direction switching function when the transferplate reaches a leading end or a trailing end of a traveling path, sothat operation performance of the thermotherapy device can be improved.

In the present invention, a holder for housing a remote controller forremote control of the thermotherapy device is provided to a housing soas to easily store the remote controller, and a magnet is provided tothe remote controller or holder so as to be able to attach or detach theremote controller and to improve the convenience of use.

In the present invention, a housing and a cover member are hinged by acoupling member, and the cover member is unfolded when the thermotherapydevice is used and is folded when the thermotherapy device is not used,so that a size of the thermotherapy device can be remarkably reduced,the thermotherapy device can be easily carried and stored when not used,the convenience of use can be increased by improving mobility, and thecover member can be easily folded and/or unfolded to increase theconvenience of use.

In the present invention, a cover member is formed to be thinner than abody in order to reduce a thickness of the thermotherapy device, and isseparated from a floor due to a thickness difference from a housing whenunfolded and used, and a supporting means is provided to prevent thecover member from leaning or sagging, and supports the cover member soas to be able to horizontally maintain the cover member when thethermotherapy device is used and to realize a stable support structure.

In the present invention, a backing member of the supporting means ishinged to a cover member so as to be able to be turned. A receiving partis provided to the cover member, and the backing member is housed in thereceiving part, so that the thermotherapy device can improve theconvenience of use.

In addition, the present invention includes a locking means. When thethermotherapy device is stored, the hinged body and cover member areprevented from being unfolded by themselves. Further, a transfer memberis provided, so that the thermotherapy device is easily handled whentransported or carried.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a thermotherapy device according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the thermotherapy deviceaccording to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the thermotherapy deviceaccording to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views showing a thermotherapy deviceaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view and a bottom view showing the thermotherapy deviceof FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the thermotherapy device of FIGS. 4 and5; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a locking means of thethermotherapy device according to the other exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

EMBODIMENTS

A thermotherapy device according to exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention will be described in detail below with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a thermotherapy device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first housing10, a second housing 20, a transfer plate 30 equipped with transferrollers 31 on both sides thereof, and a pair of guide rails 40 which areinstalled in the second housing 20 and on which the respective transferrollers 31 are placed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first housing 10 and the second housing 20are made by injection molding, and are disposed and coupled in avertical direction.

In this case, an injection metal mold for molding the first and secondhousings 10 and 20 is made up of an upper metal mold and a lower metalmold, by which the respective housings are molded.

Here, the first housing 10 includes a middle housing 10B coupled to thesecond housing 20, an upper housing 10A coupled to the middle housing10B, and a cover member 10C covering an upper edge of the upper housing10A.

Further, a pair of guide rails 40 are provided on an upper surface ofthe second housing 20 and disposed in parallel in a forward/backwarddirection. The transfer rollers 31 installed on the transfer plate 30are placed on the respective guide rails 40, so that the transfer plate30 can travel.

The transfer plate 30 is mounted with a massage set 1. When power issupplied from a driving means, the transfer rollers 31 roll on the guiderails 40. Massage is conducted by forward and backward movements of thetransfer plate 30.

Particularly, the guide rails 40 are integrally molded when the secondhousing 20 is injection-molded.

This structure can solve a problem that, since separate work forinstalling the rails should be performed when the rails are mounted asin the related art, workability is lowered productivity is reduced aswell as a problem that a cost is required to manufacture separate rails,and thus economic efficiency is lowered, at a stroke.

In other words, since the guide rails 40 are integrally molded when thesecond housing 20 is injection-molded, the separate work for mountingthe rails is not required, and the cost required to manufacture therails can be cut. Thus, the economic efficiency can be enhanced.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the transfer rollers 31 rollingon the guide rails 40 may be prevented from being fluctuated orseparated from the guide rails 40 so as to increase stability.

To this end, each guide rail 40 is provided with a slide part 41 on anupper surface thereof which is inclined in an inward and downward/upwarddirection, and each transfer roller 31 is provided with a contact part33 inclined in an inward and upward/downward direction so as tocorrespond to the slide part 41.

That is, when the transfer rollers 31 are placed on the slide parts 41,each slide part 41 has the same slope as the contact part 33 of eachtransfer roller 31. As such, the transfer rollers 31 are subjected to apredetermined load (a load applied from the transfer plate 30 and a loadthat is applied from a user to the massage set 1 coming into contactwith a body of the user) via the slopes thereof in an inward or outwarddirection.

Thus, even when an external force is applied to the transfer rollers 31in a leftward/rightward direction or in an upward/downward direction,the transfer rollers 31 can be prevented from being fluctuated andseparated by the slopes of the slide parts 41 and the contact parts 33,so that they can stably travel.

In the attached figure, the slide parts 41 and the contact parts 33 ofthe transfer rollers 31 are shown in such a way that the slopes thereofare inclined from outward to inward (first example). If necessary, theslopes of slide parts and the contact parts of the transfer rollers maybe inclined from inward to outward (second example).

However, when the slopes of the slide parts 41 and the contact parts 33of the transfer rollers 31 are formed as in the second example, a forceis applied in opposite directions in which the transfer rollers 31 arewidened. In this case, a tensile force is applied to joints between thetransfer plate 30 and the transfer rollers 31, and thus the joints maybe weakened. As such, the slopes of the slide parts 41 and the contactparts 33 of the transfer rollers 31 are preferably formed as in thefirst example in which they are inclined from outward to inward.

As shown in FIG. 2 (an upper enlarged view), the contact parts 33 of thetransfer rollers 31 are preferably formed in an inclined shape on thewhole.

Further, as another modification of the transfer roller, as shown inFIG. 2 (a lower enlarged view), in case of the first example, eachtransfer roller 31 is further provided with a flat part 35 to which thecontact part 33 is connected, which is disposed at an outer side, andwhich is in contact with the slide part 41. Thereby, a frictional areabetween the transfer roller 31 and the slide part 41 is reduced so as tobe able to reduce either power loss caused by friction or wear.

When this is applied to the second example, the flat part may be formedat an inner side so as to carry out the same function as describedabove.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, to prevent the fluctuation orseparation of the transfer rollers 31, the first housing 10 is providedwith anti-separation members 11 that are disposed above the guide rails40 and are spaced apart from the guide rails 40 by a predetermineddistance.

Each anti-separation member 11 protrudes downward and is disposedparallel with each guide rail 40 in a forward/backward direction. Sincethe transfer roller 31 is interposed between the guide rail 40 and theanti-separation member 11, the transfer rollers 31 are prevented frombeing fluctuated or separated in an upward direction by theanti-separation members 11.

In this case, to ensure smooth movement of the transfer rollers 31, theanti-separation members 11 may be maintained at a predetermined distanceso as not to be in contact with the transfer rollers 31.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the anti-separation members 11 may beconfigured so that lower surfaces thereof are formed in a flat shape orin an inclined shape so as to correspond to the contact parts 33 of thetransfer rollers 31. However, since it is preferable that theanti-separation members 11 are not in direct contact with the transferrollers 31, the lower surfaces of the anti-separation members 11 may benot formed in the inclined shape.

Furthermore, each transfer roller 31 may be further provided with anannular guide flange 37 on an inner lateral surface thereof whichprotrudes in a radial outward direction. Thus, when the transfer rollers31 move leftward/rightward, the guide flanges 37 are caught on innerwalls of the guide rails 40 so as to prevent the transfer rollers 31from being derailed from the slide parts 41. As a result, the stabletravelling of the transfer rollers 31 is possible.

In this case, an outer diameter of each guide flange 37 is greater thana spaced distance between the guide rail 40 and the anti-separationmember 11 so as to be able to be caught on the inner wall of the guiderail 40 as well as the anti-separation member 11 and thus to realize amore stable support structure.

Further, the transfer plate 30 is provided with a limit switch 50 in thefront and/or rear thereof. When the transfer plate 30 arrives at aleading end or a trailing end of a travelling path thereof, the limitswitch 50 comes into contact with the first or second housing so that atraveling direction of the transfer plate 30 can be automaticallyswitched. Thereby, the apparatus can be smoothly operated.

In this case, the limit switch 50 may be installed in the front and/orrear of the transfer plate 30.

In addition, a remote controller 60 is provided so as to remotelycontrol the thermotherapy device. The remote controller 60 is housed ina holder 70 provided in the first housing 10 and/or the second housing20.

Thus, the holder 70 allows the remote controller 60 to be easily storedas well as to be always disposed at the thermotherapy device, and thuscan improve the convenience of use.

In this case, the holder 70 of a box shape is mounted in the middlehousing 10B and the upper housing 10A constituting the first housing 10.However, the holder 70 is to provide convenience for a user, and may beprovided at an optimal place in which the convenience of use can beensured.

Further, the holder 70 and/or the remote controller 60 are provided witha detachable member 80 for attaching or detaching the remote controller60. The detachable member 80 may be an attached type such as a magnet ora Velcro, or a structure in or from which the remote controller 60 isfitted or extracted.

Here, when the detachable member 80 is the magnet or the Velcro, it maybe provided for both the holder 70 and the remote controller 60. Whenthe detachable member is the structure, it may be provided only insidethe holder 70 or for both the holder 70 and the remote controller 60 soas to correspond to each other.

Hereinafter, as a thermotherapy device according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, a thermotherapy device configuredin a foldable type will be described in greater detail with reference tothe attached figures.

First, a criterion of a direction used herein is defined with referenceto FIG. 4. In a state in which a cover member 120 is folded back on ahousing 100, a side at which a handle 111 is provided is defined as a“front” or a “leading end,” and a side at which a locking means 150 isdefined as a “rear” or a “trailing end.”

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a foldable thermotherapy device according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a housing100, a cover member 120 opening/closing the housing 100, a couplingmember 130 hinging the housing 100 and the cover member 120, and asupporting means 140 configured to horizontally maintain the covermember 120.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the housing 100 provides an installation spacein which a massage set (not shown) and a driving means for transferringthe massage set are mounted, and is connected to the cover member 120.When the cover member 120 is unfolded, the housing 100 functions as abed in which a user can lie face up or down along with the cover member120.

Further, similar to that shown in FIG. 1, the housing 100 includes afirst housing 10 made up of an upper housing 10A and a lower housing10B, and a second housing 20.

However, in FIGS. 4 to 7, the second housing forming the bottom of thethermotherapy device is not shown.

Thus, the housing described below is set to indicate the first housingof FIGS. 1 to 3.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the cover member 120 is configured so that aleading end thereof is hinged to a leading end of the housing 100 by thecoupling member. Thus, the cover member 120 is configured in a foldertype in which it can be unfolded when the thermotherapy device is usedand be folded when the thermotherapy device is not used.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the leading end of the housing 100 isconnected to the leading end of the cover member 120, and thus thecoupling member 130 allows the cover member 120 to pivot around thecoupling member 130, thereby allowing the cover member 120 to beunfolded or folded.

To this end, the coupling member 130 preferably employs a knowncomponent such as a hinge so as to be able to reduce a unit cost of aproduct.

The housing 100 of the thermotherapy device according to the presentinvention is manufactured so as to have a predetermined thickness tosecure the installation space as described above.

In this case, to make the thermotherapy device slim, the thickness ofthe housing 100 may be formed so as to have a minimum thickness.

However, to obtain the slim thermotherapy device, the housing 100encounters a limit in reducing its thickness due to the restrictions asdescribed above. As such, a thickness of the cover member 120 may beconsiderably reduced so as to be able to make a product slim andlightweight.

Here, a thickness ratio of the housing 100 to the cover member 120 maybe maintained within a range of 1:0.2 to 1:0.8.

Thus, when the cover member 120 is unfolded to use the thermotherapydevice, the cover member 120 has a cantilever structure in which it isspaced apart from a floor by a predetermined height due to a thicknessdifference between the cover member 120 and the housing 100.

In this case, when a user lies face up or down in order to use thethermotherapy device, a trailing end of the cover member 120 leans orsags due to weight of the user, which incurs the inconvenience of use.

To prevent this, the supporting means 140 is provided so as to obtain astable support structure when the cover member 120 is unfolded, so thatit can prevent the leaning or sagging of the cover member 120.

The supporting means 140 includes first and second contact parts 141 and143 supporting the leading end of the cover member 120, and a backingmember 145 supporting the trailing end of the cover member 120.

First, the first contact part 141 of the supporting means 140 is formedat the leading end of the housing 100 in an upward curved shape, and thesecond contact part 143 is formed at the leading end of the cover member120 in a downward curved shape so as to correspond to the first contactpart 141.

Thus, when the cover member 120 is unfolded, the second contact part 143comes into contact with the first contact part 141, thereby supportingthe leading end of the cover member 120.

Next, the backing member 145 of the supporting means 140 has a squarebracket shape, and both ends thereof are hinged to the trailing end ofthe cover member 120, thereby supporting the trailing end of the covermember 120.

In this case, the backing member 145 may be configured to have a heightcorresponding to the thickness difference between the housing 100 andthe cover member 120, thereby compensating for the thickness differencebetween the housing 10 and the cover member 120.

The cover member 120 is provided with a receiving part 121 that housesthe backing member 145. The receiving part 121 is shaped of a groovecorresponding to a shape of the backing member 145.

Although not shown in the attached figure, the backing member of thesupporting means can be installed in various shapes such as a shape inwhich two legs are separated, in addition to the square bracket shape.

The both ends of the backing member 145 are hinged to inner sides ofboth ends of the receiving part 121. When the cover member 120 isunfolded and used, the backing member 145 is extracted from thereceiving part 121, comes into contact with a floor, and supports thetrailing end of the cover member 120.

In contrast, when the cover member 120 is folded, the extracted backingmember 145 is turned to enter the receiving part 121. It is preferablethat, when the thermotherapy device is not used, the backing member 145can be compactly housed so as not to be unnecessarily exposed.

Furthermore, the receiving part 121 is provided with a grasping recess123 so as to allow the backing member 145 to be easily extracted. Whenthe backing member 145 is extracted, the grasping recess 123 mayincrease the convenience of use by permitting access of a finger of auser.

As described above, when the cover member 120 is unfolded and used, thesupporting means 140 can prevent the cover member 120 from leaning orsagging because the first and second contact parts 141 and 143 supportthe leading end of the cover member 120 and because the backing member145 supports the trailing end of the cover member 120 from the floor.

Thereby, the stable support structure is realized so as to allow thecover member 120 to be horizontally maintained. Accordingly, when thethermotherapy device is used, the inconvenience of a user can be removedto improve the reliability of the thermotherapy device.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the thermotherapy deviceaccording to the present invention is provided with a locking means 150coupled to the housing 100 and the cover member 120.

Since the housing 100 and the cover member 120 are hinged by thecoupling member 130, when the thermotherapy device is stored, carried,or transported, and particularly when the thermotherapy device stands,the cover member 120 may be turned around and unfolded from the housing100 by itself. This is preferably prevented so as to provide theconvenience of use.

To this end, the locking means 150 includes a body 151 connected to thehousing 100, an actuating member 153 hinged to the body 151, a hookingmember 155 hinged to the actuating member 153, and a hooked slot 157which is formed in the cover member 120 and into and from which thehooking member 155 is inserted and extracted.

The body 151 of the locking means 150 is fixedly installed on an outersurface of the trailing end of the housing 100 by a bolt or a pin, andthe actuating member 153 is rotatably coupled to an upper end of thebody 151 by a first hinge coupler H1.

The hooking member 155 is provided with a support rod 155 a at a lowerend thereof, and a rotary space is formed above the support rod 155 a sothat rotation of the actuating member 153 is possible.

Further, the actuating member 153 is provided with fitting recesses 153a into which the support rod 155 a is fitted so that the rotation of theactuating member 153 is possible. A second hinge coupler H2 is formed bythe support rod and the fitting recesses.

In this case, in a state in which the thermotherapy device is locked,the second hinge coupler H2 is located below the first hinge coupler H1.

Further, the hooking member 155 is provided with a hooking protrusion155 b at an upper portion thereof which protrudes downward or in a hookshape. The hooking protrusion 155 b is inserted into and/or extractedfrom the hooked slot 157, thereby performing a locking function.

As for an unlocking operation of the locking means 150, first, when theactuating member 153 is pulled back upward in order to unlock the lockedthermotherapy device, the actuating member 153 is turned upward.

Thus, the second hinge coupler H2 moves upward. Thereby, the hookingmember 155 moves upward, and the hooking protrusion 155 b is extractedfrom the hooked slot 157, so that the locked state is released.

In contrast, as for an locking operation caused by the locking means150, when the hooking protrusion 155 b of the hooking member 155 islocated above the hooked slot 157, the second hinge coupler H2 islocated above the first hinge coupler H1.

In this state, when the actuating member 153 is rotated downward, thesecond hinge coupler H2 moves downward. Further, the hooking member 155also moves downward, and the hooking protrusion 155 b is inserted intothe hooked slot 157, so that the unlocked state is switched into thelocked state.

As described above, the locking means 150 employs a clamp type, andensures the convenience of use. If necessary, the locking means 150 canemploy various types in order to lock the housing 100 and the covermember 120. As such, the locking means 150 as described above is merelyone of embodied various examples.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the thermotherapy device accordingto the present invention is provided with a transfer member 160 in orderto provide convenience when transported.

The transfer member 160 is made up of a transfer roller connected to alower portion of the body 151 of the locking means 150.

In this case, the transfer member 160 is installed on the body 151 ofthe locking means 150, and is located at the trailing end of thethermotherapy device.

When a user grasps the handle 111 to transport or carry thethermotherapy device in which the handle 111 is provided to the leadingend of the housing 100, the thermotherapy device is raised, and thetrailing end thereof comes into contact with a floor. As such, thetransfer member 160 is preferably located at the trailing end of thethermotherapy device.

Further, the transfer member 160 is preferably provided to the lockingmeans 150.

When the transfer member 160 is mounted on the housing 100 or the covermember 120, the transfer member 160 not only damages the housing 100 orthe cover member 120 but also spoils the beauty of the housing 100 orthe cover member 120.

For this reason, when the transfer member 160 is installed on the body151 of the locking means 150 fixed to the housing 100, the transfermember 160 may prevent damage to the housing 100 or the cover member120, and maintain the beauty of the housing 100 or the cover member 120.

However, the transfer member 160 may be manufactured in various shapessuch as a wheel or a caster, in addition to the roller.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 7, the thermotherapy device according to thepresent invention is configured so that a recess 125 is formed in aninner surface of the cover member 120 so as to prevent interferencebetween the massage set and the cover member 120.

The massage set (not shown) provided in the housing 100 should bedisposed in an upward protruding state in order to realize a massage oracupressure function. As such, when the cover member 120 is configuredin a flat plate shape and when the housing 100 is covered with the covermember 120, an upper end of the massage set comes into contact with theinner surface of the cover member 120 and the housing 100 is notcompletely covered with the cover member 120. To solve this problem, therecess 125 is formed in the inner surface of the cover member 120.

Thus, the recess 125 causes the cover member 120 to have a cap shape.When the cover member 120 covers the housing 100, the massage set ishoused in an internal space of the cover member 120 which is formed bythe recess 125, so that the interference between the cover member 120and the massage set can be prevented, and thus the cover member 120 cancompletely cover the housing 100.

Furthermore, the thermotherapy device according to the present inventionis provided with a damping member 170 formed on the housing 100 and/orthe cover member 120.

As shown in FIG. 5, the damping member 170 may be mounted on an edge ofthe inner surface of the cover member 120 or an edge of the housing 100.If necessary, the damping member 170 may be mounted on the cover member120 and the housing 100 at mutually corresponding positions.

The damping member 170 is formed of an elastic material such as rubber,silicone, or an elastomer. When the cover member 120 is turned to coverthe housing 100, the damping member 170 absorbs a shock occurring whenthe cover member 120 collides with the housing 100 so as to be able toreduce a damage and noise occurring in the event of the collision andthus to improve quality of the thermotherapy device.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications can be made to the above-described exemplary embodimentsof the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention coversall such modifications provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A thermotherapy device comprising: a first housing; a second housingdisposed under the first housing; a transfer plate, at both sides ofwhich transfer rollers are provided; and a pair of guide rails that isprovided to the second housing and on which the respective transferrollers of the transfer plate are placed, wherein the pair of guiderails are integrally molded when the second housing is injection-molded.2. The thermotherapy device of claim 1, wherein the pair of guide railsfurther includes slide parts, which are inclined in an inward direction,on upper surfaces thereof.
 3. The thermotherapy device of claim 2,wherein the transfer rollers of the transfer plate further includecontact parts whose outer circumferential surfaces are inclined in theinward direction so as to correspond to the slide parts of the guiderails.
 4. The thermotherapy device of claim 1, wherein the first housingfurther includes anti-separation members that are disposed above thetransfer rollers and prevent the transfer rollers from being separatedfrom the guide rails while the transfer rollers are traveling.
 5. Thethermotherapy device of claim 1, wherein each of the transfer rollersfurther includes an annular guide flange on an inner lateral surfacethereof which protrudes in a radial outward direction.
 6. Thethermotherapy device of claim 1, further comprising: a limit switchprovided in the front and/or rear of the transfer plate.
 7. Thethermotherapy device of claim 1, further comprising: a remote controllerperforming remote control; and a holder that is formed in the firsthousing and/or the second housing and in which the remote controller ishoused.
 8. The thermotherapy device of claim 7, wherein the holderand/or the remote controller further include a detachable member thatattaches or detaches the remote controller.
 9. A thermotherapy devicecomprising: a housing; a cover member connected to the housing; acoupling member that connects the housing and the cover member andallows the coven member to be folded on and unfolded from the housing; asupporting means that is connected to the cover member and prevents thecover member from sagging when the cover member is unfolded from thehousing by the coupling member.
 10. The thermotherapy device of claim 9,wherein the supporting means includes: a first contact part; and asecond contact part that is formed on the cover member and is supportedon the first contact part in contact with the first contact part whenthe cover member is unfolded.
 11. The thermotherapy device of claim 9,wherein the cover member includes a receiving part, and the supportingmeans further includes a backing member that is hinged to the covermember and is housed in the receiving part.
 12. The thermotherapy deviceof claim 9, further comprising a locking means that is provided to thehousing and the cover member and allows mutual locking or unlocking ofthe housing and the cover member.
 13. The thermotherapy device of claim12, wherein the locking means includes: a body connected to the housing;an actuating member hinged to the body; a hooking member hinged to theactuating member; and a hooked slot which is formed in the cover memberand into and from which the hooking member is inserted and extracted.14. The thermotherapy device of claim 12, wherein the locking meansfurther includes a transfer member providing convenience of movement.15. The thermotherapy device of one of claim 9, wherein the cover memberfurther includes a recess formed in an inner surface thereof in order toprevent interference with a massage set disposed inside the housing whenthe housing is covered with the cover member.
 16. The thermotherapydevice of one of claim 9, further comprising a damping member formed onthe housing and/or the cover member.
 17. The thermotherapy device of oneof claim 9, wherein the housing and the cover member have a thicknessratio of 1:0.2 to 1:0.8.